Rail perv watched porn on his phone and took secret pics of woman’s legs
A rail commuter secretly photographed the legs of woman sitting opposite him then viewed porn which could be seen by other passengers.
Stephen Smith took the photo on his mobile phone of the female, who was unaware of his actions.
However, a male passenger behind Smith was watching his antics on a train from Edinburgh to Fife and filmed him on his own phone.
Smith (40,) of Meldrum Court, Dunfermline, later admitted the offences after being pointed out to police on a station platform by the witness.
At Dunfermline Sheriff Court, Smith admitted that on 17th January on a train journey between Dalmeny and Inverkeithing, he displayed obscene material, namely photographs or moving images of naked females, male private parts and other sexual images on his mobile phone whereby this could be seen in public.
He also admitted he secretly took photographs of a female’s legs and committed a breach of the peace.
Depute fiscal Alistair McDermid said the incident took place on the 5.15pm from Edinburgh Gateway to Fife.
A male witness who boarded the train witnessed the behaviour of Smith, who was sitting opposite a female passenger.
The woman was wearing a skirt and tights. The witness saw Smith point his phone at her legs and take a photo which he then viewed and zoomed in on.
The woman appeared to be unaware of what he was doing, thinking he was simply using his phone.
Smith then began looking at pornographic images including naked women and also a penis.
The witness took photos of Smith and reported the matter to police.
At a future date, the witness identified Smith to the British Transport Police at Edinburgh Gateway and he was apprehended.
“He spoke freely and admitted to viewing images of naked people on the train,” said the depute.
He also admitted taking a photo of the woman’s legs saying, “I don’t know what I was doing.”
Defence solicitor Elaine Buist said her client lives with his father and is an administration worker in Edinburgh.
“He wasn’t aware anyone else could see the images he was viewing. As far as that was concerned, he thought it was a private matter,” she went on.
“He now accepts that clearly what he was viewing was not as private as he thought.”
She said Smith claimed there was no sexual gratification involved in taking the photo of the woman’s legs.
Sheriff Charles MacNair asked, “Why then would somebody take a photograph like that of a stranger?”
Ms Buist said her client could offer no explanation. She went on, “He’s a very quiet individual. He’s very embarrassed and distressed about this.”
The sheriff asked, “Is he embarrassed and distressed about what he did or because he was caught?”
“I think he’s embarrassed that it happened at all,” answered the solicitor.
The sheriff called for reports and Smith will be sentenced on 25th July.
